Leishmaniasis and Climate Change—Case Study: Argentina

Abstract

Vector-borne diseases closely associated with the environment, such as leishmaniases, have been a usual argument about thedeleterious impact of climate change on public health. From the biological point of view interaction of different variables hasdifferent and even conflicting effects on the survival of vectors and the probability transmission of pathogens. The results onecoepidemiology of leishmaniasis in Argentina related to climate variables at different scales of space and time are presented.These studies showed that the changes in transmission due to change or increase in frequency and intensity of climatic instabilitywere expressed through changes in the probability of vector-human reservoir effective contacts. These changes of contact in turnare modulated by both direct effects on the biology and ecology of the organisms involved, as by perceptions and changes in thebehavior of the human communities at risk. Therefore, from the perspective of public health and state policy, and taking intoaccount the current nonlinear increased velocity of climate change, we concluded that discussing the uncertainties of large-scalemodels will have lower impact than to develop-validate mitigation strategies to be operative at local level, and compatibles withsustainable development, conservation biodiversity, and respect for cultural diversity.